Milena takes her job very seriously...

In fact, she identifies the need to define "a certain kind of femininity" as a driving force behind her work. No, she is not a leader in the feminist movement; she is a fashion designer.

As a designer, she draws much of her inspiration from feminist icons of the past, identifying dancer Isadora Duncan as her muse while designing the Summer 2006 Collection. The draped fabrics and asymmetrical shapes that recur throughout this collection are not only reminiscent of Isadora's dance costumes; the unconventional designs somewhat reflect Isadora's personal life, which was also marked by unconventionality. "I like the fact that she was inspiring people, women especially, with her untraditional private life and her passion for her work," says Milena of Isadora. Isadora Duncan was a liberated woman in every sense: she supported herself financially, poured most of her earnings into a dance school, and had two children out of wedlock. A woman ahead of her time, Duncan took risks, broke convention, and did so unapologetically.

In much the same way, Milena cuts all ties from the rest of the fashion industry, challenging the conventions of fashion design with her avant-garde artistic vision. When asked who she considers to be a fashion icon, Milena simply responds, "Anyone not inspired by fashion." She shuns the latest trends in favor of a retro-bohemian look. Although she does not refer to a particular fashion era when designing a collection, she acknowledges a "hippie spirit of late 60's,"which intentionally or unintentionally seems to resurface in all of her collections. Most designers shy away from loose-fitting, free-flowing fabrics, which can often achieve a formless look; Milena perfects this particular style. The integration of many different textures and layers is Milena's signature. Her clothes never fail to convey a flawless femininity, which carries over well from day into night.

An image of Isadora dancing on the seashore sticks out in Milena's mind; it was an image that she repeatedly referred to while creating the collection. "It tied in with other things that I was thinking," says Milena, "...and the direct influence of nature in my work." The ties to nature in Milena's designs are quite obvious. The method of dyeing that she favored for this particular collection is a glaring example of where her fashion design and nature converge. "With the summer collection, 'Isadora,' I worked with vegetal dyes to give the garments a slight, uneven tint of pink and gray, for a delicate aged look," explains Milena. In fact, all of Milena's design techniques are 100% natural and earth-friendly.